At bottom right, Katie Mannarino, 16, of the Greenwich High School Chamber Singers, sings "We Wish You a Merry Christmas," along with fellow chamber singers during the Department of Parks and Recreation annual tree-lighting ceremony at Greenwich Town Hall, Friday afternoon, Nov. 30, 2012. less

At bottom right, Katie Mannarino, 16, of the Greenwich High School Chamber Singers, sings "We Wish You a Merry Christmas," along with fellow chamber singers during the Department of Parks and Recreation annual ... more

At center, Tory Hoffmeister, 17, of the Greenwich High School Chamber Singers, sings "We Wish You a Merry Christmas," along with fellow chamber singers during the Department of Parks and Recreation annual tree-lighting ceremony at Greenwich Town Hall, Friday afternoon, Nov. 30, 2012. less

At center, Tory Hoffmeister, 17, of the Greenwich High School Chamber Singers, sings "We Wish You a Merry Christmas," along with fellow chamber singers during the Department of Parks and Recreation annual ... more

At left, Erika Bloes and Katelyn Burhans, both 13, both of Greenwich, dressed as elves with Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer during the Department of Parks and Recreation annual tree-lighting ceremony at Greenwich Town Hall, Friday afternoon, Nov. 30, 2012. less

At left, Erika Bloes and Katelyn Burhans, both 13, both of Greenwich, dressed as elves with Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer during the Department of Parks and Recreation annual tree-lighting ceremony at ... more

Troy Rumbaoa, 4, of Greenwich, touches the hand of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer during the Department of Parks and Recreation annual tree-lighting ceremony at Greenwich Town Hall, Friday afternoon, Nov. 30, 2012. less

Troy Rumbaoa, 4, of Greenwich, touches the hand of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer during the Department of Parks and Recreation annual tree-lighting ceremony at Greenwich Town Hall, Friday afternoon, Nov. 30, ... more

Longtime Greenwich resident Angela Carino used to take her kids to the tree lighting.

Now, she's with the next generation.

"I came here to listen to my nephew sing in the choir," said Carino, Greenwich High School's Bella House guidance secretary, standing in front of Town Hall with her mother, two aunts, sister, a friend and her dog Turtle.

Her nephew, Alex Benedict, was among the Greenwich High School Chamber Singers who launched into festive song following the lighting of Greenwich's holiday tree Friday night.

"We're going uphill, so she's gonna slow down a bit," Bob Meyer, who goes by the name Safari Bob, said to a child riding on one of his animals.

Meyer and his wife, Cherri, own the Wallingford-based company that provided an "alpine safari" for the event. The Meyers made the animals -- a snow cat and a reindeer -- themselves. They weigh about 250 pounds and roll on wheels.

And how exactly does it feel to ride one?

"It feels like you're on a horse," said Doreen Carroll-Andrews, Greenwich's wetlands compliance officer, after she rode the snow cat with her 21-month-old son Evan.

Carroll-Andrews was far from the only town employee there with family. First Selectman Peter Tesei was mingling in the crowd, standing by his daughter Caroline, and holding his son James, 3.

"Goat," James said, pointing to one of Meyer's animals.

Tesei, who was sporting a festive Santa and swordfish tie, wasn't entirely convinced.

"That's a reindeer," he gingerly corrected.

Eight-year-old Kieran McGuire particularly liked that animal and said he thought this year's event was better than last year's, "because it's more fun."

Recreation Supervisor Frank Gabriele said the tree lighting is a long-standing Greenwich tradition, which goes back beyond the 18 years he's worked for the town. But not everything has stayed the same.

"It's evolved," he said.

When Gabriele started, the town hired a singer with a keyboard. Now they have the GHS Chamber Singers, who sang holiday standards like "The First Noël," "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," and "Santa Claus is Coming to Town."

The Meyers' animals also are a recent addition. So was the tree, a spruce adorned in purple, blue, red and green lights that was donated to the town a few years ago after its predecessor was knocked down in a storm.

This fact did not escape 8-year-old Sofia Devito, who said the tree was pretty, "because it has all the lights on it."

But not all were completely satisfied.

"I wish it were snowing," 6-year-old Tessa Meurer said, while jumping up and down.

And while it was a chilly late November evening, the chamber singers had a warm spirit.

"It's fun to sing for the children," said senior Eric Aaron, 17, standing by the doors to Town Hall, sporting two hats -- one from the University of Pennsylvania, the other a spirally Santa hat. "Someday it could be them up here and me in the audience."